THE SOMALI ISSA DIR DJIBOUTI: Beesha Ciise Madoobe Dir

The Issas are the sons of Madoobe Dir Aji. There are over 400,000 Issas in Ethiopia. Another 370,000 live in Djibouti where the Issa Madoobe Dir and their related brothers the Gadabursi Samaroon Mandaluug Dir live. There are also about 120,000 Issas in Somali's Zaila district around the vicinities of Loyacade, Siliil and Abdulqadir.

In North Eastern Somalia still lives a small group of Madoobe Dir (Elleeye),Minsaanle Dir, Cabbas Muuse (Surre) and the Magaaldle Dir, in Ceerigabo district along the Dir, Muuse Carre, Habar Issaq. According to the Dir of North Eastern Somalia the common ancestor of the Issas Madoobe Dir is buried in Eerigaabo District, not far from where the Gadabuuris Samaroon Saciid is buried, Gudmo Biyeys.

There are small groups of Madoobe Dir amoungst the Surre Mahe Dir futher South and in Western region 5 areas of Doollo and Luuq areas were the Suure call them simply Madoobe Dir.

The Issas live in the same regions that the Gurgure Madaxweyn Dir of Ethiopia Dira Dhawe area.The name of this location means were the "Dir Hit" Meeshii Dir Dhabah in referrence to 1500 battles between the Gallas or Oromos who entered after the Awadal and Ifit Dir sultants collapsed.

Ugaas of Issas

The traditional Ugaas comes from the smallest Issa clan, Wardiiq and rules from his settlement Waruf located 180 Km south of Djibouti, west of the Harrar road. One of their Ugaas's was Ugaas Hassan Xirsi Ugaas.

Somali National Hero Mahamuud Harbi

Mahamuud Harbi is a national hero of Djibouti and Somalia where several schools were named after him. In the 1958 referrendum when the French controlled puppet parliment voted Djibouti to remain with France instead of unity with Greater Somalia, Mahamuud Harbi fled to Somalia and his political career ended in October, 1958 when he was killed in an air crush (mysteriously) while on his way back to Mogadisho from a visit to the Peoples Republic of China. Many believe he was killed and his death remains shrouded in a mystery.

Madoobe Dir has six sons:

Issa Madoobe

Howlqaade

Makahiil

Iidleh

Mahamuud

Three brothers are known as Walaaldon
2.Hoolleh

Mahadleh

Saxiib

The two are known as Forlabbe
3.Eelleye

Mamasan

Muuse ( Yoonis Muuse and Sacad Muuse)

The Above three are collectivelly know as the Abdaal (Abgaal) and form a moiet or branch of Issa Madoobe Dir Aji. The Following three brother are called the Dalool branch.
4. Uurweyne

Fiqi ( Hussen and Muuse)

Abdallah ( Bur, Ahmed, Koron, Ali)

5. Wardiiq ( Waaqtishiil and Raamwaaq)
6. Hooroone

Habar Walaala- Geelaleh

Geel Walaal-Cabdalleh and Adan

Political Organizations Of Issas

Democratic Action League DAL early political movement of Issas in Ethiopia was led by Mohammed Sheikh Ibrahim

Issa Gurgure Libration Front IGLF led by Riyaal Ahmed uniting two powerful Dir clans until the Gurgure split in 1991, IGLF name continued even though a Gurgure by the name Abdul Aziz formed the independent Gurgure Libration Front which worked with their next door cousins.